Arlington Aviators in limbo as Soccer First shuts down

Aviators players and friends gathered for one last kick-around Friday at Soccer First in Arlington. (Facebook)

ARLINGTON, WA— The future of the Arlington Aviators is up in the air after Soccer First Indoor Sports closed its doors on Saturday.

“We are very sad to announce this but Soccer First will be permanently closing. The building which we call our home has sold and the new owner will not give us a new lease,” says a post on the facility’s Facebook page.

“We thank every one of you who have supported us throughout the years. We have enjoyed serving all of you and value the friendships that we have made with so many people. Thanks again to all of you! —Tom and Raymond.”

The Arlington Aviators of the WISL are in limbo after their home venue shut down this weekend. (Wilson Tsoi)

The Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) Aviators have played three seasons in the venue. Now it appears they might be disbanding.

“We are unsure of the status of next year (for the Aviators) at this point. We need to let the dust settle from this [arena closure] and see how it plays out,” says former Soccer First operator Tom Harris.

Meanwhile, Merrick Parnell, who worked as the General Manager for the Aviators, but then switched over to become the Interim Director of Player Personnel of the PASL’s Seattle Sporting after the Aviators’ season ended, may try to keep the Aviators name alive. goalWA.net has learned that Parnell has inquired about purchasing the Aviators brand.

Marysville Indoor Sports is the closest soccer center to Arlington, though it has been closed for over a year. There is the Snohomish Soccer Dome, currently home to the PASL’s Snohomish Skyhawks, and the Everett Indoor Soccer Arena, which hosted Seattle Sporting last season.

There is likely to be plenty of club movement in the local elite indoor soccer scene this off-season. The WISL could grow to include clubs that played this year in the nationally-run PASL.